Russian Anti-Radiation Missiles

What the missile needs for the interception are two things... a radar beam illuminating the target, and a datalink passing it accurate course information to tell it where to fly.

From what Sean has said it could calculate its own manouvers if needed, so it is possible that a future AWACS platform like A-100 might be able to take over control of an intercept, presumably by illuminating the target and providing a datalink connection to complete the interception.

True, but same terminal target illumination could just as same provide PAK-FA or Su-35BM in the area.

This is in line with what I have read and talked about that MIG-31 can provide terminal guidance to S-300 missiles. S-300 missile just needs to recognize MIG-31 radar frequency bouncing of target.

SOC wrote:The game-changer will be if they incorporate a midcourse update capacity allowing signals to be received from the Nebo-M radar. You could either do it directly, or have the signals transmitted from Nebo-M to the 91N6 or 92N6 for processing and uplink. That will give you a legitimate counter-VLO engagement capacity to hang your hat on.

This is in line with what I have read and talked about that MIG-31 can provide terminal guidance to S-300 missiles. S-300 missile just needs to recognize MIG-31 radar frequency bouncing of target.

Similar to the first interception using the R-37 where the Mig-31M that launched the missile still had the old unupgraded radar and could not even detect the target 300km away.

The Mig-31M and its Mig-31 radar received target information from an Su-30 flying closer to the target. Using that information the Mig-31M was able to launch its missile and transmit course corrections till it got within range of the target for its own radar to detect and lock up the target.

I don't see why such an engagement could not have been accomplished with any other platform providing target data.

To do the same with an S-300 missile is complicated by the fact that the missile needs to recognise the radar beam marking the target, but I would assume it would be an X band signal, or perhaps Ka, which is pretty commonly used for tracking by ground and air radars.

Of course with the new S-400 small missiles being active radar homers, I would think a real development would be S-400 missiles with QWIP based long wave IR seekers... even if they can only detect targets within 10km then NEBO can get them inside that distance for pretty much any aircraft except perhaps the B-2.

In such a situation the only aircraft that can penetrate your main SAM defences is a very large subsonic plane with no self defence capability. A very large radar array with Su-35s as interceptors to run those bombers down...

Of course enormous AESA antenna arrays on aircraft and S-400 batteries will likely make penetration of Russian air space fairly difficult. Along with all the space based assets they are looking at developing and the new SAM systems they are introducing into service...

Tactical Missiles Corporation completes the state testing of inboard missiles X-58UShK, designed for the fifth generation fighter PAK FA (T-50). TASS reported this quoting the KTRV director general Boris Obnosov.

“This is the absolutely newest product that has nothing in common with the old X-58, except for the index: it is twice shorter than the X-58, equipped with a completely different homing. Just now we are finishing its state tests, including test launches from experimental aircraft T-50,” Boris Obnosov said.

According to B. Obnosov, PAK FA “is the only Russian platform, equipped with onboard anti-radar missiles,” but X-58UShK can be installed on external hardpoints.

In order subjugate poor, isolated, defenseless countries US used to build up a range of electronic hardares such as Awacs, Elint, fighter-bombers, bombers, and anti-radiation missiles against fixed radars. Nevertheless, most of people use to forget that US surpassed their ennemies by outnumbering them rather than using technology superior to them.This time, this hegemony will end, by the arrival -among other russian-chinese hardwares- of anti radiation missiles like Kh-58UShK. 2015 will be the new shift of balance epecially in military area.

Airshow China 2014: PAK-FA's new anti-radiation missile set for 2015 series production

The Tactical Missiles Corporation (TMC) company is completing official trials of the Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missile intended to be fired from the internal weapons bay of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter, general director Boris Obnosov told IHS Jane's at Airshow China 2014.

"It is an absolutely innovative item, having nothing common with the old X-58 missile except the similarity in designation. It is 0.5 m shorter than the Kh-58 and equipped with a new seeker. We are finishing the official trials of the new missiles, including launches from the T-50 prototypes," Obnosov said, adding that it could also be mounted on the external weapons carriage of the MiG-35, Su-30MK, Su-34, and Su-35 fighters.

The missile is being developed by a TMC subsidiary, the Raduga (Rainbow) state design bureau, which is based at Dubna city near Moscow. Official trials are to be completed and serial production to start in 2015.

The old Kh-58 missile could be equipped with one of a selection of four passive seekers, designed to target radars working at the different frequency ranges. The new Kh-58UShK missile has an innovative broadband passive radar seeker that allows it to target modern ground-based radars working at frequency ranges between 1.2 GHz and 11 GHz.

The new missile weighs 650 kg with a warhead weight of 149 kg, is 4.19 m long, has a wingspan of 0.8 m, and a diameter of 0.38 m. The Kh-58UShK's maximum speed is 4,200 km/h and it can be launched at aircraft speeds of Mach 0.47-1.5. It can also be launched at altitudes between 20-20,000 m, providing a maximum range varying between 76-245 km. The minimum range is 10-12 km, this at a launch height of 200 m. The Kh-58UShK has an 80% probability of striking within 20 m of the target emmiter.

The presence of the missile at Airshow China 2014 is noteworthy given the Chinese development of fifth-generation fighters such as the J-20 and J-31, which are both equipped with internal weapons bays.

This new weapon will not change things much... it appears to be a capable weapon, but apart from being smaller and lighter and having a single seeker that can engage a wide range of ground based emitters this is not that much different from the old Kh-58 ARM.

this is the heavier long range missile... the shorter range missile used on tactical aircraft was the Kh-25MP (AS-12), the Kh-58 is the long range strike aircrafts missile (AS-11) and also the ramjet powered Kh-31 is also used (AS-17).

Either way these weapons are mostly useful when penetrating enemy air defences... ie they are most useful on attack... so the US will use these systems rather more often than the Russians are likely to.

Simply put, such weapons will be used for dealing with ABM and air defense systems when and if a major war would occure. Prior to or when ICBM's would fly, these would also fly to knock out any threats to the ICBM's or aircrafts. Most ABM and other air defense systems (excluding short range ones) relies on radar system to track and engage the target. Remove that and it will be much harder to track and engage it.

Fantastic weapons really. Anti radiation missiles are probably as important as the aircrafts that launch them and the tactical cruise missiles as these serve a major purpose other than to bomb something.

"The X-58USHK missile for the fifth-generation fighter is at the final stages of development ... the flight speed will exceed 3.5 Mach," Obnosov said.

According to him, the missile will be placed inside the fighter’s fuselage.

Obnosov said that the X-58USHK missile has a major export potential owing to its speed characteristics and small size.

The KTRV Corporation announced in early July the beginning of testing of a new anti-radar missile for the PAK FA fighter jet.

The Sukhoi PAK FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) is a fifth generation fighter program of the Russian Air Force. The T-50 is the name of the prototype aircraft designed by Sukhoi for the PAK FA programme. The PAK FA is intended to be the successor to the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force and serve as the basis for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft being co-developed by Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force.

PAK FA fighter first flew in 2010. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2016, and serial deliveries will begin in 2017.

nastle77 wrote:Kh-28/AS-9 Kyle was carried by a lot of VVS planes , can this missile be used in the anti-ship role as well ? Given it is an anti-radiation missile can it home in on the the ship based radars ?

nastle77 wrote:Kh-28/AS-9 Kyle was carried by a lot of VVS planes , can this missile be used in the anti-ship role as well ? Given it is an anti-radiation missile can it home in on the the ship based radars ?

nastle77 wrote:Kh-28/AS-9 Kyle was carried by a lot of VVS planes , can this missile be used in the anti-ship role as well ? Given it is an anti-radiation missile can it home in on the the ship based radars ?

Not really, because the seekerhead of the Kh-28 could only target specific radars, at first the NIKE Hercules and Thunderbird. The Kh-28M could also target the HAWK SAM. Possibly even more types were added later, but I have never heard of any naval radars being so.

nastle77 wrote:Kh-28/AS-9 Kyle was carried by a lot of VVS planes , can this missile be used in the anti-ship role as well ? Given it is an anti-radiation missile can it home in on the the ship based radars ?

Not really, because the seekerhead of the Kh-28 could only target specific radars, at first the NIKE Hercules and Thunderbird. The Kh-28M could also target the HAWK SAM. Possibly even more types were added later, but I have never heard of any naval radars being so.

So if the Mig-27/Su-17 or SU-24 are to be used in a anti-shipping role what ASM or PGM can they carry ? I though the Kh-28 might be one

nastle77 wrote:Kh-28/AS-9 Kyle was carried by a lot of VVS planes , can this missile be used in the anti-ship role as well ? Given it is an anti-radiation missile can it home in on the the ship based radars ?

Not really, because the seekerhead of the Kh-28 could only target specific radars, at first the NIKE Hercules and Thunderbird. The Kh-28M could also target the HAWK SAM. Possibly even more types were added later, but I have never heard of any naval radars being so.

So if the Mig-27/Su-17 or SU-24 are to be used in a anti-shipping role what ASM or PGM can they carry ? I though the Kh-28 might be one

ASMs? None. PGMs? Kh-25 and Kh-29 as well as guided and unguided bombs. The MiG-27 could not carry the Kh-28 anyway.

ASMs? None. PGMs? Kh-25 and Kh-29 as well as guided and unguided bombs. The MiG-27 could not carry the Kh-28 anyway.

ASMs are air to surface missiles and would include but would not be limited to the Kh-25 family, the Kh-29 and the Kh-31 family of missiles.

If you were keeping them in service today I would expect Kh-35s and the anti ship version of the Kh-31 would be the primary anti ship missile (AShM) they would carry... the Kh-25 being too light and the Kh-29 being too short ranged.

The Kh-28 was a large heavy missile in most ways inferior to the missiles that replaced it... Kh-31 in the case of the light aircraft like MiG-27 and Su-17/20/22, and Kh-58 in the case of larger aircraft like Su-24 and MiG-31BM.

One of its biggest problems was its liquid fuel rocket motor... the same volatile fuel as the Kh-22M...

ASMs? None. PGMs? Kh-25 and Kh-29 as well as guided and unguided bombs. The MiG-27 could not carry the Kh-28 anyway.

ASMs are air to surface missiles and would include but would not be limited to the Kh-25 family, the Kh-29 and the Kh-31 family of missiles.

If you were keeping them in service today I would expect Kh-35s and the anti ship version of the Kh-31 would be the primary anti ship missile (AShM) they would carry... the Kh-25 being too light and the Kh-29 being too short ranged.

The Kh-28 was a large heavy missile in most ways inferior to the missiles that replaced it... Kh-31 in the case of the light aircraft like MiG-27 and Su-17/20/22, and Kh-58 in the case of larger aircraft like Su-24 and MiG-31BM.

One of its biggest problems was its liquid fuel rocket motor... the same volatile fuel as the Kh-22M...

The most common ARMs for the Su-17 and MiG-27 was the Kh-27PS and Kh-25MP. With both Su-17 and MiG-27 lacking any search radar, AShM was not much of an issue for them.

The Kh-58E is an export model of the AS-11 and could be carried by Su-22s as well as some model Su-25s and included a lock on after launch capability.

Operating with information from other platforms a flight of Su-22s could easily use a high flight profile to maximise the missile range... from 10,000m altitude it could launch Kh-58s at ships 120km away...

GarryB wrote:The Kh-58E is an export model of the AS-11 and could be carried by Su-22s as well as some model Su-25s and included a lock on after launch capability.

Operating with information from other platforms a flight of Su-22s could easily use a high flight profile to maximise the missile range... from 10,000m altitude it could launch Kh-58s at ships 120km away...

Interesting so the seeker on the Kh-58 will work for any radar on the ships and not limited to a few ground based radars ?

I was looking at the use of AVMF strike planes for attacking smaller crafts like corvettes /missile boats which do not have SAM , what kind of weapons can the Su-24 employ against such craft during the cold war years such an encounter was probably likely in the Baltic region where there were a plethora of German/sweedih/Danish crafts.I was thinking that the LGB/ AS-7/ Kh-29( AS-14) and maybe as you suggested the AS-12/AS-11 missiles might be employed.The Kh-31 and Kh-35 probably were not available during the cold war

Interesting so the seeker on the Kh-58 will work for any radar on the ships and not limited to a few ground based radars ?

Very early models could be fitted with seekers tuned to a range of radar bands... it would be a question of fitting a sensor head that was sensitive to the relevant frequencies.

Modern models have broad band sensors able to detect a range of threats.

Same with the Kh-25 ARM models.

I was thinking that the LGB/ AS-7/ Kh-29( AS-14) and maybe as you suggested the AS-12/AS-11 missiles might be employed.The Kh-31 and Kh-35 probably were not available during the cold war

Against small craft Laser and TV guided bombs would be usable, plus AS-7, AS-10, AS-11, AS-12, but AS-13 and AS-18 would be ideal... and of course the anti ship models of the Kh-31 and Kh-35 would also be able to perform the role.

Note the AS-13 and AS-18 are TV guided weapons similar to SLAM and SLAM-ER respectively.

For a corvette an AS-14 would be devastating with its 320kg warhead and 20-30km range with TV gudiance.

Even AS-10 with laser homing would be effective against small vessels with its 90kg warhead.

Also, any anti radiation missiles would work, why wouldn't it? They are cruise missiles and abm sites are not particularly designed to engage cruise missiles or some Salvo strikes (no site is) but of course they can have other systems protecting the site meant to engage cruise missiles and PGM's. But of course, no system is 100% effective and even less so against a heavy strike.

Russia’s new anti-radar missile outshines predecessor 150% by combat efficiencyThe developer has reduced the missile’s length to 4.19 meters and its wing span to 0.8 m

KUBINKA /Moscow Region/, August 24. /TASS/. Russia’s new Kh-58UShKE anti-radar missile is 150% more combat efficient than its predecessor Kh-58E, Tactical Missiles Corporation said at the Army-2018 international military and technical forum on Friday.

"The dimensions and the size of the new missile have been reduced, which has made it possible to place it inside the fuselage. It features the technology of a digital information exchange with all modern types of carriers. The missile carries one broadband homing warhead instead of five to engage targets across the entire range of their frequencies. The missile’s combat efficiency has been increased by 2.5 times compared to the previous Kh-58E version," the weapon manufacturer said.

The developer has reduced the missile’s length to 4.19 meters and its wing span to 0.8 m. The missile’s flight range has been increased from 46 km to 76 km when fired from a minimum altitude of 200 meters and from 200 km to 245 km when launched from an altitude of 20 km.

The Army-2018 international military and technical forum runs at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center at the Kubinka airfield and at the Alabino practice range near Moscow.